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January 27, 2012

Top 10 Baby Items

I get asked a lot about gifts I would recommend for a new mom, seeing as how I am one. Now that I'm almost a year (!!!!) into this whole baby-having business, I definitely have some favorite items and some that I could do without. After buying a ton of stuff I thought I would need, and borrowing (from friends and family) what we weren't sure about, I finally widdled down my own "must have" list. In case you're in need of a gift idea, or you are just starting out and are overwhelmed with baby-gear-mania (totally me a year ago!) I thought I would share with you my list of favorite things that made my life a little better with a baby - in no particular order.

Before our little one could sit up on her own, this kept her from rolling around in the big ol' tub. It's also cushy and sucks up the warm water to keep her warm. When H was tiny we used to put our sponge in the kitchen sink. We loved it because it didn't take up a ton of space - once bath time was over, we would wring the sponge out, let it dry and then shove it under the sink.

Baby Bjorn

We are on the go a lot. I tried a few other baby carriers - slings, wraps - and this was the only one that allowed my little one to be held close to mommy or daddy while also being upright (a must for her) and to face outward (also a must for her from a really early age).

H suffered with reflux when she was tiny, so laying flat on her back was torture for her. She slept in this bouncer for the first three months of her life (yes, we cleared it with her pediatrician). She liked it because it actually bounces on it's own instead of just vibrating like other "bouncers."

This has become the most used piece of furniture in our house. I am (still) nursing H, and this is most comfy place to snuggle my little one while she nurses. Even if I hadn't found this chair for half the price of what Pottery Barn sells it for, I think it would still be worth the admittedly high price tag. When we travel away from home (which is quite often), this is the one item I miss.

We swaddled H every time she became fussy and it immediately calmed her. We also swaddled her for naps and bedtime and she loved it. These swaddle blankets are the perfect size, are incredibly soft and are organic which is great for something so close to my peanut's sensitive skin.

No more guessing what temperature that stupid red line is at. No more trying to finagle it into the tiny recesses of my little one's body. Just press one button and swipe across the forehead. Easy. Fast. Love it!

Sound Machine

Our house is small. My husband is loud. You do the math. A sound machine keeps my baby asleep through even the most memorable Utah Jazz moments. We play the 'ocean' sound, though it sounds more like white noise than waves crashing on shore. I didn't link to this particular model because I think that any of them would work just as well. We got this one at Target (I think it was around $25?) and we also downloaded a few free sound machine apps for our iphones for when we are traveling.

We live in a neighborhood where just about everything I need is within walking distance (market, pharmacy, library, 6 restaurants, bookstore, salon, chocolatier - that's right, I threw that in there - it's a necessity) so we opted for the Mercedes Benz of the stroller world. This ride turns on a dime, handles our urban un-even sidewalks like a charm (or off-roading to see some petroglyphs near St. George like the picture above), and can even grow to fit another little person or two. When H was tiny (after she had outgrown the reflux), we would attach the bassinet and wheel it into the bedroom for her to sleep. I love it so much, I would sleep in it.

Dimmer switch

So useful during a middle-of-the-night diaper change, or helping to set the tone for bedtime. Dim lights = sleepy baby (that's what I keep telling myself anyway. Hey, it puts me to sleep!) These can be found at any big box store and installed in about 10 minutes.

What are your favorite baby items?

*Again, though I have many opinions I don't get paid for any of them. I'm just a girl, rattling on about her genuinely favorite baby stuff. That is all.

1 comment:

My babies are all grown up now. They are 22 and 20 years old, but I still remember feeling overwhelmed by all the baby products out there. We used Weleda baby products (available at Whole Foods) - we still use the baby cream on our dry winter skin. I also loved the bath sponge and we bathed our second baby on the sink with it until he got too big for the sink, then we used the sponge in the bathtub as a non-skid seat. And I completely agree with you on the need for a good stroller. I think is the one item new parents shouldn't skimp on. Ours went to the beach and was pushed in the sand. It went on dirt trails . . . we took it everywhere, and after two babies, was still in good enough shape to be passed on to a friend.

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About Me

Hi! I'm Cate and this guy --> is Nate. We searched our whole lives to find someone whose nickname rhymed with our own. Once that was accomplished we set out to renovate our world one house at a time (we are currently on #3). We were having so much fun we almost forgot to start a family. But then we remembered. And now? We are making the most of our 1940's cottage on a tree lined street with a baby in one arm and (if you must know) a diet coke in the other.